The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-25
A TERRIBLE FIGHT.
Eight Lions and their Trainer Battiingin a
Cage-One Lion Killed.

Eight Lions and their Trainer Battlinpin N
Cage-One Lion Killed.
LONDON. October 1s.-Early this morning
there was fearful and exciting battle in the
Jubilee Exhibition at Liverpool. Delmonico,l
themost plucky tanner Of beasts, has been
exciting the nerves OF the visitors for a;
long time by trining in cage with three bigl
forest lions. Five more lions, Of differentI
kind, but very big also, arrived from Africal
yesterday, and were put at once into the big
cage with tho three already at home there
They had no training, but Delmonico went iil1
among them and thrilled the crowd that filed
the nena2erie by ansunusually sensational per-
formance.
When he had done, Nile Kora, his lartner.
went in with the lions ana took a little dog,i
ms was repeated four times during the day.
and the I'VE new lions We're too much stunned
by the huge, noisy crowd about them and the
repeated visits Of tho lady, gentleman, and,
dog. to think of anything else. Their astonish-!
ment had not Worn off, and they were still
quiet when left alone for the night by the at
tendantS ut 10 O'clock.
Shortly after midnight. however the menae.
erie was filed with d frightful roaring and
snarling, and q servant sleeping on the premi-l
SEES rushing in to find the big iron cage rocking.
and the eight lions fighting furiousy rolled up
into a huge dark ball from which the blood
stained fur was flying in all directions. Tho
huge beasts rolled over and over, dashing mad
ly against the sides of the cage, and biting
pieces out of each with ferocity that was
sickenng All the sights organized to CRAFTY
mans fondness for fighting would have seemed
the tamest child's play in comparison.
After while it became evident that there
We're two distinct sides in the battle, and tho
new arrivals were pitted at unfair odds against
the lions who had been in possession. The
efforts of the servant to separate them only in
creased their fury, and at last he rushed off
for Delmonieo, who was asleep near by in
Edge lane, Tho tanner arrived half clad and
found his lions bleeding fearfully but still
fighting.
The battle was narrowing down to duel be-
tween two of the biggest lions, which were
rapidly biting each other to pieces in the mid
die of the cage. Occasionally the battle be-
came general, and for few seconds there would
be wild tumble of snarling lions with a say
age cruuching OF teeth to tell how the flesh was
being torn. The appearance of Delmonico with
red hot iron produced an effect, and all but
the two chief combatants stopped lighting and
crouched sullcnly down, licking their bloody
wounds and snarling encouragement to the
two leaders.
On these in their rage hot iron was useless,
even when applied TO raw flesh The lions re-
sponded to the burning sensation only by tear
ing away at each other more lercely.
At last DelmoniC0, fearing he would lose his
two greatest actors, took a resolution whieh1
would probably not have occurred to any other
man il the existence Of the entire animal crea-
ton had been threatened. He entered tho
cage half clad MS he was and shut himself in.
lie next opened q door communicating with
second and drove into it like SO many sheep
the six lions that had been looking on.
Meanwhile the other lions We're still fighting,
although much weaker. Delmonco's attempts
to separate them were useless. They paid not
the slightest attention to him, and althoug in
their struggles they dashed against him, they
We're evidently unconscious OF his presence.
Before the tanner could form any plan to
separate them the fight ended Of itself. The
big forest lion, who had been defending his
home against the five strangers, rolled over ON
his back, growled family and died as the other
sliced him again by throat. One of the front
legs was gnaWed Off completely, hind leg
was chewed toa pulp, all of the name and most
of the neck was bitten away and the body was
covered with blood, as was The entire cage.
There was not on tle dead hon any unbtten
whole piece Of skin large enough to have made
glove. He had fought for his rights Just as
long as he had been ablc to work his teeth and
claws.
The victor seemed at first inclined to dash Mt
| the tanner ana at the lions in the neighboring
| cage, but he changed his mind under Delmon-
| ico's eye, and after q weak but triumphant roar
over the body OF his victim he retired into
corner and moaned over his wounds. Although
conquerer, he was not to be envied. His mane
was gone and his body looked as though an
| especially wicked harrow bad been repeatedly
| dragged over 10. Blood trckled from a hun
| dred ugly wounds, ana there is little hope that
he'will live. Guriousy enough, not one of the
lions had its tail bitten oil in the fray, which
seems to Indicate that some code OF honor Xxx
lists among lions which prevents them from
making each other ridiculous, even in the
dcadlcst combat.
The other six lions win lige, but they were so
bitten that only two coald ne patched up to
perform today, aud iher mangled appearance
terrified Mile. kora's little dog out Of all recol-
lection OF his role. Tie loss If the second lion
dies viii be about E4O0. In any case he will
a